Merchandise package



Jan. 17, 1933. ANDREWS 1,894,337

MERCHANDISE PACKAGE Filed Feb. 12. 1930 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT] OFFICE CHAMPE S. ANDREWS OF CHA'ITANOOGA, TENNESSEE MERCHANDISE PACKAGE Application filed February 12, 1930. Serial No. 427,683.

The present invention consists of anew and useful means employed therewith particularly applicable for packing merchandisc of a certain kind, for example hats or such' other articles that are liable to be crushed in transportation when improperly packed.

According to the present invention, as part of the improved methodof packing, a suitable container is employed, preferably a folding or collapsible paper box, so that'the latter may be shipped and stored in a flat condition and when the box is to be used it may readily be set up into the operative pi sition. Supporting meansare provided within the box whereby the article of merchandise packed in the box is constantly retained in a supported or suspended position within said box in a manner whereby said article cannot come in contact with the walls of the box. A separate sheet or member is provided to form a support for the article and said member is so constructed or has means asso ciated therewith whereby the article supported or suspended thereby is retentively held in a determined position within the box. Said retaining sheet or member, together with the article, is placed within the box by a sliding movement, through the open side or sides of the box or in some cases if preferred, the top of the box may be open and the article together with the supporting member can then be dropped into the box. In all instances means convenient to operate are provided for anchoring the article and the carrying member so that the article will not become displaced in transportation or other handling.

The improved method together with one example of means employed therewith, will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

"Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the article and the supporting means;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the article and supporting means contained within a box of a conventional type;

Figure 8 is a detail view of the supporting device inone form; and

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and bottom plan view of amodified form of the supporting device. Referring to said drawing, 1 represents a hat or any other article which is easily crushed or broken due to its fragility, such 5 for example as a lamp shade or the like made either of paper, glass or some other breakable or crushable material. In Figure 1 the article and supporting means only are shown and which means comprises the sheet 2 having mountedthe'reon a band or form 3 which is substantially the shape and size of the hollow interior of the article to be packed. Said band 3 projects above the sheet 2'a11d is secured thereto by suitable means such for ex? ample as acrimped or flanged lower edge 4'. Thesheet 2 is cut out to forman opening to receive this band and the enga 'ng flange 4 will retain the said band in p ace. Any

suitable form of folding box may beemo ployed such for example as the box 5 shown in'Figure 2, and as shown, this box has an open top and a loose cover 6 therefor to permit removal of the article.

In carrying out the improved metho'd the improved box or packing container consists, as aforesaid, of the members described, name- 'ly the enclosing box, the supporting sheet I or member and the retaining band or form, I and all of which members may be so arranged o that the entire outfit of the three members or pieces are foldable into a fiat position to facilitate storing of the boxes. Furthermore, the various members are so designed that they may be readily put together to assemble the box ready for packing.

In Figure 3 the-band 3 is formed of a separate strip having the ends united adhesively or by staples and when so prepared, theband may be folded into a flat position. When 9 required for use, the collapsed band is opened and inserted into the opening in thesupporting sheet-2. The flange 4 at the bottom of said band will retain the bandinposition.

In Figures 4 and 5 a modified form of band 5 'is shown and in this instance the ends of the band are united bylocking tongues 7 at one end engaging slots 8 inthe other end. ,By this means the band isformed and as before the band passes through'an openinglin the same function as said flange. stances referred to, the supporting sheet or supporting sheet 2. Instead of the flange 4:, at the bottom of the band a series of ears 9 are employed and these cars perform the In both inmember and thearticle carried thereby, are placed into the enclosing box and means such for example as tongues 10 in the bottom of the box are engaged by said sheet whereby the latter and the article carried therein are retained in a secure position.

In the packing of certain articles of merchandise, for example high grade hats, the present improved method of packing has the particular advantage that the hat, being supported from the interior, no part of the exterior surface of the hat comes into contact with the walls of the container and the [supporting means. To get full advantage of this feature the supporting sheet 2'is flexible and larger-or longer than the diameter of It will be understood from'the above dethe container so that when inserted this sheet is bowed upwardly, asshown by broken lines in Figure 3. I In this position the edges of said sheet 2 will bear against the side walls of the container and thereby through pressure, friction is caused which alone will retain. the holder in place; therefore in most instances the retaining tongues 10 may not haveto be used. Furthermore, when the sheet is'z'so bowed the under surface of the brim of the hat is kept out ofcontact with said supporting sheet.

scription ofthe improved method and means that the article packed accordingly is retentively held in a fixed position by suspension from the interiorof the article so that the walls of the box and the support will not come in contact with the exterior surface of the article contained therein or supported thereby. The box employed must naturally container having side walls and a bottom wall, a collapsible support frictionally held on the bottom wall of the container, said sup port including a flexible sheet base having an through an opening in said sheet and detachably secured thereto, said support being adapted to receive and hold merchandise in a position clear of the walls of the said container. a j

4:. Packing means for merchandise comprisinga collapsible container, a removable support frictionally held within said con tainer, said support comprising a sheet detachably secured to the bottom of the container, a band extending through an opening in said sheet and detachably secured thereto, said support being operative to receive and hold merchandise clear of the walls of the said container.

' In'testimony whereof I havehereunto set 7 my hand. l V a a CHAMPE S. ANDREWS.

be fairly firm so that it will not be easily crushed and thereby come in contact with the article packed therein.

' Modifications in the above. described methodand means may be made without departing. from the spirit of the invention and it is to beunderstood that any modification of the method and means, either in the construction or use thereof, coming fairly withinthe terms of the appended claims, shall be covered thereby. a

. I claim for merchandise comwithin said container, said support being composed of a sheet, detachably held within 7 said container, a collapsible and separable band detachably secured to said: sheet by means comprising a flanged lower edge of said band engaging the under side:of portions of said sheet adjacent to an opening in said sheet into which said band is inserted.

2Q-A merchandise package comprising a 

